Tabulating machine



Feb. 1 0, 1931. J. R. PEIRcE 1,791,762

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18,1924 .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwen coi @51 CIf/IZMMM S Feb. 10, 1931. R PEIRCE 1,791,762

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 924' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 as i670 7 I26 479 90/ u 'u u m S Feb. 10, 1931. .1. R. PEIRCE 1,791,762

TABULATI NG MAC'HI N E Filed Feb. 18, 1924 5 Sheeips-Sheet 3 A M M MMMFeb. 10, 1931. J. R. PEIRCE TABULATING MACHINE .FiledsF eb. 18, 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 10, 1931. .1. R. PEIRCE TABULATING MACHINE FiledFeb. 18, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I II vwemfoz Patented Feb. 10, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN ROYDEN PEIRCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNQR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION 01? NEW YORK TABULATING MACHINE Application filed February18, 1924. Serial No. 693,572.

- printed the accumulator wheels are adapted to differentially controlthe displacement of the said elements.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the generalsimplification of the machine as a whole.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision, in atabulating machine, of a plurality of elements carrying type and adaptedto directly control or to be controlled directly by accumulator wheels,which elements are displaced synchronously with the movement of a cardthroughthe machine and are differentially arrested and prevented fromfurther movement upon the passage of index point perforations under thecard reading devices.

In the drawings, 4

Fig. 1 is a front part sectional view of the tabulator counter.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view, the section being takensubstantially on line 2'2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar transverse sectional view,

the section being taken substantially on line- 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the card feeding sensing andstacking mechanism. This section is taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the start and stop Fig. 6 is a detail view ofone of the elements which carries the type bars. I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a record card and the sensing brushtherefor.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the magnetic latch mechanism for differentialelements.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the same mechanism takensubstantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. 4

Fig. 10 is a circuit-diagram of the machine.

Drive for the machine The drive for the machine may be secured from anysuitable source of power such as an electric motor (not shown) which isadapted to rotate a gear 10 (Fig. 5) This gear is fast to one element 11of a one revolution clutch, the other element 12 of which is fast to themain drive shaft 13 of thetabulating machine. The clutching of theseelements together is effected by asuitable spring-pressed dog or latch14 which is carried by part 12 and adapted to fit into a notch or recessin the element 11. A suitable stop and start key arrangement ispreferably provided for controlling the operation of the clutch.Assuming the machine stationary and it be desired to be put intooperation, the start key 15 (Fig. 2) is depressed thereby elevating alink 16 and rocking a bell crank 17 counterclockwise. Part 17 carries-alatch 18 (Fig. 5) which until rocked out engagesa, pin upon the clutchdogl4 and maintains it dis: engaged from its notch. The counterclockwiserocking of the bell crank releases the clutch dog from latch 18 andpermits it to engage the notch in element 11 at the proper time in themachine cycle. The machine now continues to run, a suitable pawl 19holding the parts in displaced position. To stop the tabulator at anytime the stop key 20 is depressed thus freeing the pawl 19 from link 16and permitting a spring 21 to move the parts into position to withdrawthe clutch dog at the proper time in the cycle.

If a total is to be taken the t'abulator'drive shaft should make asingle revolution only. For such operation the stop key is firstdcpressed and locked in by a notch 22. This will hold out pawl 19 andthereafter upon depressing the start key 15 the parts will first bedisplaced to release the clutch and immediately thereafterwards'will berestored to reengage the clutch do upon the completion of one revolutionthere y causing the tabulator main drive shaft to make a singlerevolution.

The main drive shaft or cam shaft 13 of the machine extends to and issuitably .geared to a card feeding and stacking device. The drivinggearin is best shown in Figs. 3 and 1 and 1s gener'a 1y designated 25.Certain of these mm 25 have connected thereto the usual llllkS 26 whichactuate a picker 27. The picker 27 is adapted to withdraw one card at atime from a supply stacks 28 (Fig. 4) and advance the same to feed rolls29 which advance the card past the card reading brushes synchronouslymoved elements consist of bars to the stacker 30. The stacker is ofconventional form and delivers the sensed cards to a storage ordischarge stack 3011. All of the feed rolls and the stacker are -drivenby the gearin 25.

Unli e previous electrically controlled tabulating machines, the cardsare presented in a different manner to the reading devices. As shown inFig. 7, the 0 index point perforations are leading and reach the brushesfirst instead of last as in the so-called Hollerith types of electricaltabulators. The .card readin devices include individual and insulatecontact blocks 31 and brushes 32 which are preferably electricallyconnected to.

a common bar 33. In order to permit high speed tabulating operations tobe efiected I provide what is here termed 'a double brush provided. Tothese shoulders of each eleconstruction. Each brush comprises preferablytwo sets or bundles of wires marked .a

and b in Fig. 7 and the arrangement is such that the time of contact ofthe brushes to the contact blocks through the holes in the cards ismateriallyprolonged over what it would be with ordinar round brushes .ofthe usual single type. T e establishment of circuits throu theindexpoint perforations of the:

recor' cards is adapted to control the adding and printing operations aswill hereafter be described. I

The main adding section of the tabulator will now be described. Brieflythe principle involved in this machine includes a plurality of'elements,one for. each column on the card, I

which elements cooperate to effect both the printing and theaccumulation of the number derived from the record card. In order tocontrol. the printing and accumulation in accordance with the indexpoint perforation on the card, provision is made for displacing theelements at a speed substantially synchronous with the feed of cardsthrough the machine. It may be here stated that by synchronous is meantnot necessarily at an identical velocity to that of the cards but at acorrelated velocity which does not vary at one point with respect to thevelocity at another point in the cycle. This velocity may be in itselfthe same or different from the velocity of the cards passing through thecard feeding attachment. The controlling elements being thus movedsynchronously with the card feed are arranged to be differentiallyarrested and revented from further movement u on an index pointperforation passing un er the sensing brush. Then at a given time in thecycle, suitable hammer mechanism impacts against the type carried b theelements causing an item to be printe on a record sheet. Subsequentlyaccumulator wheels are enmeshedwith the aforesaid elements and thelatter are restored to the normal position thus entering the amountsprinted into the ac cumulators.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 2, the

103 which are suitably guided in frame parts of the machine.

Preferabl these bars are made substantially straig t and theirsynchronous movement is one of direct linear translation. Thesynchronous motion of the bars is effected as follows. Slidablysupported in the frame of the machine is an actuating and restoringframe comprising cross bars 40, 41 and 42 (Fig. 2). united by verticalmembers, such as 44, and this frame assembly is arranged to bereciprocated vertically by a linkage 45 shown in'dotted lines in Fig. 2and having follower rolls cooperating with complementary cams 46 and 47.At the lower end of each element 103 rearwardly extending shoulders 47aare These laterally extending bars are rise, by the elevation of theupper anchorage 41. Aspreviously explained, the motion of the parts orelements 103 is synchronous with that of the card feed. v

Each element 103 at its upper end carries a plurality of type 50 (seeFig. 6). These type are of the usual form used in adding machinesand-are held by springs away from the printing platen 51. The printingplaten 51 is of the usual form and includes the usual feed mechanismindicated at 52 in Fig. 3. Suitable inking ribbon 54 (Fig. 2) is alsoprovided. For striking the type at the printing line a' plurality ofspring-pressed plungers 55 are provided, which plungers are adapted tobe struck by hammers 56. The hammers 56 are impelled against theplungers 55 by springs 57 and restoration of the hammers is effected bymeans of a bail 58. Tripping of the hammers is effected by pawls 59, 59aand 60 and tripping of the hammers for printing zeros to the ri htis'secured by members 596. Parts 58 and 59 are actuated by the linkageshown in Fig. 3 and including link 61, bell crank 62 and link 63. Link63 connects to a bell crank 64 pivoted at 65 and this bell crank isactuated by a linkage and rocker arm 66 which is displaced by a cam 67'M agnetz'c latch section armature 7 2 has a rearWa-rdly extending hookportion 74 which is notched as best shown in Fig. 9 and adapted tonormally engage a stop element 7 5. The arma-tures 7 2 are normallyengaged with the stop elements 75 by means of springs 76 (Figs. 8 and 9)and the stop elements in turn are normally urged to, the right bytension springs 78 (Fig. 8). The stop elements are slidably guided inthe machine frame and at their extreme ends carry multiple-toothed pawlpieces 79 which cooperate with complementary ratchet shape pieces 80fast to the lower end of'the elements 103. The arrangement is'such'thatupon the energization of any magnet 71 the armature latch 74 is releasedallowing stop piece 75 to move to the right, permitting the ratchetpiece 7 9 to] engage with corresponding ratchet piece 80 onthefelement-103 and thereby arrest and prevent'further upward mbvemert-cf said element. Subsequently? the springs 48 on the-elements" 193which areiarrested yield to a further extent and allowthe.

position. a g The provision of the cooperating multi-' toothed ratchets79;,and 80 has been found particularly effective in arresting theelements' 108 and preventing the tendency of these parts to reboundafter they are arrested.

Thus it is possible to attain comparatively higher tabulating speedsthan before.

At a certain time after the elements 103 have been arrested the stopmembers 79 are withdrawnfrom cooperation with the ratchet members 80and, in order to hold the elements 103 in position until printing isfinished and the accumulators engaged, certain locking means areprovided. This locking is effected by means of spring-pressed lockingelements 82 (Fig. 8) which are adapted to be dropped in notches inplates 83 which are fast to the elements 103 upon the counterclockwiserocking of a bail84. This bail is operated by a linkage 85 connected toa follower 86 which is actuated by a cam 87 on the main drive shaft 13of the machine.

As in other tabulating machines utilizing electrical circuits throughthe cards, means must be provided for interrupting the magnet circuitsbefore the brushes leave the holes in the cards. For this purpose,contacts 88 a are provided in the card and magnet circuits,

which contacts are ,normally closed. Disposed below the contacts areslider pieces 89 having shoulders 91 which engage suitable insulatingbuttons upon one of the contacts of each pair. The slider pieces areurged away from the contacts by springs 90. The stop pieces 75 haveupwardly extending shoulders 91a which align with shoulders on theslider pieces 89. When the stoppiece 75 moves to the right upon theenergization of magnet 71,

the slider piece 89 will correspondingly move and thus open contacts 88breaking the card circuit and preventing arcing at the brushes. When thestop pieces 75 are restored to the left, the slider pieces 89 are alsoforced to the left to maintain the contacts 88 closed. This condition ismaintained until the stop pieces are again released by the energizationof magnets 71. Relatching and restoration of the stop pieces 75 andrestoration of the slider pieces 91 to reclose contacts 88 is efiectedat the proper time in the cycle by'means of a restoring bail 92 which isadapted to be displaced to the left from the position shown in Fig. 8 tocontact'with shoulders 91a on the stop pieces 7 5.' Shoulders 91a are inalignment with the corresponding sliders 91 and thus displace tothe lefttensioning springs 90 and closing contacts 88. The bail 92 is fixed toatrock shaft l -which has fast upon it a crank 93 (Fig. 2), which crankthrough a pin and slotconne'c tio'n is actuated by a bell crank 94disposed on shaft 120v and having a follower 96 cooperating with a cam97 fast actuating frame to rise to its maximum high upon the mam shaftAcc'ufiuZator section Before describing the detailed accumulatoroperation it will be ex lained in general that the accumulator is of tetypecommonly-used in adding machines. In the operationof the machinethe type bars or elements 103 rise to a differential position. Afterthey have been arrested the accumulator wheels are enmeshed and the typebars are thereafter restored to their normal or lower position.

This restoration of the type bars rolls the amount previously set upupon the type bars into the accumulator wheels. Then, upon the nextupward movement of the type bars the accumulator wheels are againunmeshed to be remeshed when the type bars are arrested. In totalprinting operations the accumulator engagement is reversed and theaccumulator wheels are engaged with'the type bars at the beginning oftheir raising cycle and serve to control the extent to which they areelevated. At the end of the type bar raising cycle in totallingoperations the accumulators are demeshed and thus stand at zero ready toaccumulate a new vtotal upon the commencement of the next listingoperation.

Accumulator The accumulator which in general details is of the wellknown Burroughs type comprises the accumulator wheels 101 adapted tomesh with the racks 102 carried on the type bars or elements 103 beingconnected thereto by a pin and slot connection, as at 1.04, and .beingheld in a relatively downward position by a spring 105 so that the racknormally engages the lug 106 fixed on the type bar. The accumulatorwheels are shown as having twenty teeth and two carrying projections107. These projections cooperategwith a lever 108 pivoted at 109 andadapted when actuated by the counterclockwise rotation of the wheel toturn the latch 110 in a clockwise direction releasing the carrying latch111 so that the latter may be turned counterclockwise by its spring 112.This as is well known will move the carrying latch 111 out of the pathof carrying stop 113 so that the racks may on their downward stroke moveone tooth farther to carry one. It is, of course, understood that thiscarrying takes place in the next adjacent wheel to the left. Once duringeach machine cycle the shaft 114 is rocked clockwise. This in turn rocksthe carrying latch 111 in a similar direction, locking all such latchesunder the latch 110, which,

as is seen, is provided with a spring 115. During normal listing andadding operations, the accumulator wheels are normally in mesh with theracks. Just before the type bars begin to rise a cam 116 fixed on thecam shaft 13 and turning in a counterclockwise direction, actuates afollower 118 one lever 119, rocking the latter about its pivot 120,raising the pin 121 and depressing pin 122. A T- shaped lever 123having-opposite bifurcated sides'is at this time in the position shownin Fig. 2, cooperating with the pin 122 so that the depression of thispin pulls downwardly upon said lever 123 and also rocks the lever 124clockwise about its pivot 125. The lever 124 has pin and slot connectionat 126 with the cam bar 127. Thus this cam bar is at this momentdepressed, moving the cam 128 downwardly. Thisin turn pushes thefollower. wheel 129 to the right. This follower is carried by the arm130 pivoted .at 131 and carrying theshaft 132 on which aremounted theaccumulator wheels. Thus said wheels will be moved out of mesh withtheracks. While the parts are in this position the type bars and racksrise to position being stopped under control of the perforated card.While the parts'are in this latter position, the cam 116 will haveturned substantially 180 degrees and the follower 118 will ride down tothe lower position of the cam, raising the cam bars 127 and 128 topermit the accumulator wheels to mesh with the racks 102. During thenext position of the cycle, the type bars and racks descend to normalposition rolling the data into the wheels. All of the racks will bestopped by the engagement oflng 113 with the latch 111, excepting wherecarrying is to take place and latch 111 has been rockedcounterclockwise. In the latter case the racks will descend one toothspace farther and add one to the appropriate accumulator wheels. Beforethe type bars and racks begin their downward stroke, all of the carryinglatches 111 are restored to normal position by clockwise rotation ofshaft 114 and carrying the bail 133, which engages the rear end of thelatches 111, moving them into locked relation with latch 110. Rocking ofshaft 114 is effected by means of a lever 134 fixed thereon andconnected by a link 135 to a lever 136, pivoted on shaft 131 andcarrying a follower 137 coopcrating lwith a cam 138 on the bar 139. Thisbar is connected by a pin and slot connection to a lever 140 pivoted at125 and having a depending arm 141 connected by a link 142 to a lever143 pivoted at 120 and carrying a follower 144 cooperating with a cam145. Once each revolution of saidcamthe raised portion 146 rocks thelever 143 and causes the cam 138 to rise and fall. The rise of said campermits the follower 137 on the lever 136 to move to the left under theaction of a spring 148.

Operation of accumulator for total taking In taking totals theaccumulator must be ins mesh with the racks while the type bars 1 I willrise to position, the said bars being thus cbntrolled as to the heightto which they rise by the accumulators. To take. a total the total key149 (Fig. 3) is pressed to the right. A plate 150 attached to said keyis provided with a cam slot 151 into which reaches a in --152 on a lever153. Said lever is pivote at actuation of key 149 to the right movessaid T-shaped piece 123 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3,causing it, owing to camming action between the side of the depressionin the piece 123 and the pin 121 to lower lever 124 and shift cam bar127 downwardly to force the accumulator wheels outof mesh with the racks102 so that when the cam 116 rocks lever 119 in a clockwise direction,the cam bar 127 will be raised to permit the accumulator wheels to meshwith the racks. Now when the type bars rise they will rotate theaccumulator wheels backward until one of the projections 1.07 ,engagesthe upper portion of the stop'108 and is thus prevented from furtherrotation. The type bars are thus held in this position and will printthe character represented by the position of the accumulator wheelsbefore the commencement of the upward movement of the type bars. Theaccumulator wheels, on the other hand, will now be in zero position. Atthis time the cam 116 will permit counterclockwise movement of lever 119and depress the cam bar 127, moving the accumulator wheels out of meshwith the racks, so that when the latter descends to normal position theaccumulator wheels will remain reset at zero. The pressing of the totalkey 149. is also adapted to raise all of the racks 102, since thereversal of the positions of the cam bar .127 and the accumulator wheels147 turned the carrying latches 111 out of the path of the lugs 113 andpermitted the racks to drop one tooth space. The plate 150 is providedwith a secondcam notch 160 into which a pin 161 on a lever 162 reaches.The lever 162 is fixed on the shaft 163 which also carries arms 164cooperating with a bar 165 to raise the latter, which in turn will raise,the racks 102. It is while the racks are in this raised position thatthe accumulators mesh therewith.

Uircuit diagram. In Fig. 10, wires 170 represent the main circuit leadsof the machine. 171 is a suit- .able double pole switch which, whenthrown tov closed position,

A the supply of current to the brushes and" the ma gnets- 'coritrolledtherelpvon ly-at such times when cards are under the brushes and tointerrupt these card and magnet circuits" at other times in the cycle,as for example, during the interval between two cards. From cam contact172. a lead 174 leads to the common brush bar 33. From individual.contact blocks 31 individgal leads 175 extend to a plugboard 176. Intheillustrated embodiment theplugboard, as shown in Fig. 2, comprisesplug sockets 177 which are connected to the contacts 88. On the circuitdiagram (Fig. 10) these connections are indicated at 178. The leads 175are provided with plu s 179 which may be inserted in the sockets 17%. Bythe use of the plugboard it is possible to plug up any desired fieldfrom the record card to any desired set or group of type bars andaccumulating elements. Leads 178 extend through the contacts 88 thencethrough "magnets 71; through resistance 180 to common lead 181 whichconnects back to the line through the cam contact devices 173.

In the use of this tabulator, the general practice to be followed inpunching cards will be to punch zeros in all columns in which no addingor printing is to be effected. This will prevent any of the extra typebars from risin above the zero position.

at I claim is 1. A card-controlled. tabulating machine comprising acommon element having provisions for positioning a group of type andactuating a correlated accumulator element, means for moving saidelement synchronously with the feed of cards through the machine, andmeans controlled by the perforated index point designations of movingrecord cards for arresting the movement of said element at differentialpositions according to the relative lofiition of the perforations uponthe record ca 1 2. A tabulator consisting of a common element havingprovisions for positioning a group of type and actuating a correlatedaccumulator element, card feeding means, and "means for synchronouslymoving the said element and the record cards, and means for arrestingthe movement of said element, and means for controlling said lastmentioned means in accordance with index point perforations in therecord card.

3. A tabulator comprising an element which both positions a group oftype and actuates a correlated accumulator element, means for movingsaid element synchronously with the feed of cards through the machine,and magnetic controlled means for arresting the movement of said elementat diffei'ential positions in accordance with the positions of the indexpoint perforations of passing record cards.

4. A card-controlled tabulating machine comprising an element which bothpositions which means is provided controlling the displacement of thesaid element in accordance with the amount standing upon the accumulatorwhereby said amount may be printed.

6. A tabulating machineincluding in combination with card feedingmechanism, a plurality of elements with provisions for imparting arectilinear movement thereto which is synchronized with the feed ofcards through the machine, a plurality of type carried by said elements,accumulator .wheels adapted to be driven by said elements or to controlthe displacement of the same in totalling operations, a plurality ofmagnetic devices controlled by perforations in the cards while thelatter are in motion, and means controlled by said magnetic devices forarresting the rectilinear motion of the aforesaid elements atdifferential positions in accordance with the index point perforationsof the record cards.

7. In a cyclically operable record controlled tabulating machine, anaccumulating device and a type carrying member, a common operatingelement for said accumulat ing device and said member and means forcyclically operating the same synchronously with the operating cycles ofthe tabulator,

(record controlled means for arresting the motion of said operatingelement in differential.

positions corresponding to data on controlling recordsand means forcoupling said ac,-

cumulating device to said operating element after its motion is arrestedand maintaining the coupling until the operating is restored to itsinitial position.

8. In a cyclically operable record controlled tabulating machine, anaccumulating deviceand a type carrying member, a common operatingelement for said accumulating device and said member and means forcyclically operatingthe same synchronously with the operating cycles ofthe tabulator, record controlled means for arresting the motion of saidoperating element in difi'er: ential positions corresponding to data oncon-' trolling records during tabulating cycles, and means for couplingsaid accumulating device to said operating element after its motion isarrested during such cycles and maintaining said coupling until theoperating member is restored to its initial position; means for cou-..

pling said accumulating device to said operating element at thebeginning bf totalizing cycles and means controlled by said accumulatingdevicefor arresting the motion of'said operating element when saidaccumulating device reaches home position during "such cycles.

9. A record controlled accountingmachine comprising recordfeeding-means, a group 01 type and an accumulating element with a commonoperatingmember for positioning said type and accumulating elementduring accumulating operations and totaling 0 er-' ations, said memberbeing movable Sync r0- nously with record feed during accumulatingoperations and having associated means for interrupting its movementaccording to index points on controlling records and means forinterrupting the movement of said member according to data on theaccumulating element during totaling operations.

10. A record controlled accounting machine including record feedingmeans and record analyzing means, a rack movable synchronously withrecord feed and means controlled by the analyzing means for interruptingits movement according to index points on records, an accumulatingelement comprising a pinion, means for demeshing the pinion from therack prior to record analysis and remeshing the same with the rack afterinterruption of its movement.

11. A perforated card, controlled tabulating machine comprising cardanalyzing mechanism and means for feeding cards past the analyzingmechanism to permit the sucanalyzing mechanism for interrupting themovement of the type carrier when the ana lyzing mechanism encounters anindex point on a card to select the corresponding type for printing andan accumulator element positively driven by the type carrier to theextent of its displacement from normal home position-to efiect anaccumulation of the actual characters printed. 1 v a 12. A perforatedcard controlled tabulating machine com rising a card analyzing brush andmeans brush to permit successive searching of index points thereby, atype carrier having type corresponding to the several index pointpositions on controlling cards and means for moving the carriersynchronously with card feed to bring the several type successively intoprinting position as the corresponding index points on the cards arebeing analyzed, an electromagnetically controlled device operated undercontrol of the analyzing brush when it encounters an index oint forarresting the movement of the type carrier to select (the correspondingtype for printing and an accumulator element positively driven by thetype carrier to the extent of its displacement -from normal homeposition toeffect an acsignature.

JOHN .ROYDEN PEIRCE.

